Assembling machine



Oct. 10, 1939. F. L. DARLING ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Dec. 16, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 10, 1939. F. L. DARLING ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Dec. 16, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 10, 1939. DARUNG 2,175,744

ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed Dec. 16, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet '3 Patented Oct. 10, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ASSEMBLING lHACHINE Vania Application December 16, 1936, Serial No. 116,203

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to an assembling machine and, more particularly, to a machine for assembling container tops.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a machine for securing removable caps or closures in the tops of cans, and before the tops have been applied to the cans.

The invention particularly comprises a mechanism for assembling can tops of the type disclosed in my patent for Vacuum sealing can, 2,024,511, December 17, 1935. The can disclosed in that patent includes a top wall provided with an aperture in which a closure or cap sealed with a plastic sealing substance is adapted to be secured by solder. As is disclosed in my two applications for patents on Container sealing machines, filed of even date herewith, the caps or closures may be inserted in the top wall of the can after the can has been filled. However, it is also practicable to place the caps in the can tops before the tops have been seamed upon the can bodies. The mechanism of the present invention comprises a means for thus joining the caps to the tops. Obviously, the top assembled by the present machine may then be seamed to one end of a can body, and the opposite end (normally the bottom end) then seamed to the can to close the same after it has been filled. In some instances, the bottom end of the can may be first secured to the can body and the top end assembled by the present machine may later be seamed to the can after it has been filled.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and attached drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine with portions shown in horizontal section;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic View showing the development of the platform raising cam of the machine;

Figure 5 is a plan view of a type of container top structure which may be assembled in the present machine; and

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 66 of Figure 5.

The machine of the present invention may be broadly described as comprising a stationary table or support Ill in which a rotary table I I is mounted. Means such as an infeed conveyor I2 may be provided to deliver assembled top elements to an infeed member or pusher I3 which places each cap upon one of a series of platforms [4 reciprocable in the rotary table II. With each platform I 4 there is aligned a holding or positioning member l5 and a securing or heating element [6, the latter preferably being a soldering or sweating element. As the rotating table [I revolves to carry a platform 14 away from the infeed member I3, the platform M will rise to present the assembled top elements to the holding member 15, further raising of the platform 14 bringing the assembled top elements into contact with the securing or heating element [6 so that the solder on the points of the cap will be melted or sweated and the cap secured to the body portion of the top. The top elements, thus secured together, will then descend with the platform 14, the holding member l5 bearing downwardly on the top elements to insure that they do not adhere to the heating element It and to also hold the two top elements in close engagement until the binding medium, ordinarily solder, has hardened. By this time the platform M will have reached the outfeed portion ll of the stationary table and the elements, secured together, will be removed from the platform. The top elements are not ordinarily securely fitted to each other when delivered to the machine, and a further function of the holding member I5 is to force the cap into a close engagement with the body portion of the top.

The base or stationary table In of the machine includes a foundation plate 20 having a wall 2|. preferably of circular form extending upwardly therefrom. Intermediate its height, the wall 2| is provided with an inwardly extending flange 22 to which is secured a cam track 23 which serves to control the position of the platforms 14. A vertical shaft 24 is journaled in a bearing 25 provided centrally of the foundation plate 20, shaft 24 being driven from a suitably mounted motor 26 through a reducing gear and worm generally indicated by the numeral 21 and transmitting power to a worm wheel 28 secured to the vertical shaft 24. The rotary table II is fixed to the vertical shaft 24 so that the surface of the rotary table will be flush with the upper surface of the stationary table or base 10. It will be observed from Figure 1 that the stationary table In includes a forward extension 30 upon which the infeed conveyor I2 operates and to which outgoing top elements are delivered, this extension being suitably braced and secured to the body portion of the base or work-table.

As shown in Figure 3, the undersurface of the rotary table ,II is provided with teeth 30 adjacent its outer edge, the teeth 30 meshing with and driving a pinion 3| fixed to a horizontal shaft 32 journaled in a forward extension 33 beneath the upper surface of the stationary table l0. At its outer end, the shaft 32 is provided with a beveled gear 34 which meshes with a beveled gear 35 fixed to a vertical stub shaft 36 also journaled in the extension 33. Stub shaft 36 is provided at its upper end with a relatively large disc 31 provided with an upwardly extending pin 38 to which a link 39 is pivotally connected so that the disc 31 serves as a crank. The outer end of the link 39 is pivotally connected to a slide member 40 which includes a lower arm 4| movable in a horizontal bore 42 formed in the base of the machine. The infeed member or pusher I3 is secured to the upper end of the slide bar 49. It will be obvious from the above that the infeed member [3 will be reciprocated in time with the rotation of the rotary table II.

The infeed conveyor l2 may be driven in any well known manner, but in the present embodiment of the machine it is driven through a sprocket chain 42 shown in dotted lines in Figure 1 and which is driven by a sprocket wheel 43 formed at the inner end of the horizontal shaft 32.

The rotary table I is provided with a plurality of sockets 45 including depending sleeves 46 at their central portion to form a bore 41. Each of the sockets 45 has mounted therein one of the platforms l4, each of which platforms, in its lowermost position, will have its upper surface flush with the upper surface of the rotating table H. A hub 50 extends downwardly from each platform l4 and has a roller 5| journaled therein which roller is adapted to move on the cam track 23.

The shaft 24 has a pair of supporting elements or spiders 55 and 56 secured thereto at a point above the surface of the rotating table ll, spider 55 being positioned slightly below the spider 56. Each arm of the spider 55 is provided with a downwardly extending boss or cup-shaped bracket 51 to which is threaded a sleeve 58 which surrounds a heating element 59 mounted for ver tical sliding movement in the sleeve, the sleeve having an inwardly extending flange 69 at its lower end to limit the downward movement of the heating element. Each heating element is tended to downward position by a coil spring 6| positioned between its upper end and the lower end of the boss 51, and current is supplied to each heating element through a conductor indicated at 62 and which preferably passes down through the rotary table I to a suitably constructed commutator 63 provided with two rings 64, one for each Wire of the conductor. Current is delivered to the commutator in the manner illustrated in Figure 2, viz., by brushes 65 which bear upon the rings and which are connected to any suitable source of power through a conductor 66.

The heating elements 59 are of ring shape and may be of any suitable material such as is practical for acting upon solder in soldering or sweating operations. The tension of the spring 6| may be adjusted by rotation of the sleeve 58 upon the boss 51.

Each arm of the upper spider 56 has a sleeve 10 fitted in its outer end, which sleeve extends hrough an aperture 1| in the arm and is held in position in any suitable manner, for example, y a olding nut 12 as shown in Figure 3. The lower portion of each sleeve 10 is slotted as indicated at 13 to receive a pin 14 extending through the shank 15 of a holding or positioning member IS. A spring 11 is positioned within the sleeve 10 between the upper end of the shank 15 and an adjusting nut 18 extending into the upper end of the sleeve and by means of which the tension of the spring 11 may be adjusted.

The can top elements which the present machine is particularly adapted to secure together are illustrated in detail in Figures 5 and 6 and comprise a top body element 86 and a cap 8|. Each top body element is provided adjacent its periphery with a U-shaped shoulder 82 of well known form so that it may be subsequently joined to a can body by a seaming machine. Spaced inwardly from the shoulder 82 is a central opening 84 defined by an upwardly and outward- 1y inclined lip 85 which terminates in an upwardly projecting relatively sharp edge as indicated at 86. The lip 85 projects upwardly from an annular groove or depression 81, this groove being defined on its outer side by an incline 88 extending to the top surface of the can top.

The cap or closure 8| which is to be secured to the can top 80 is centrally depressed, the central depression having a side wall 92 extending upwardly therefrom. A lateral flange 93 extends from the upper edge of the side wall 92, the flange being downwardly bowed as indicated in Figure 6 to provide a downwardly facing shoulder 94 which, when the cap is in closed position, will bear upon the upper surface of the groove 81 of the body element. Points 95 extend from the outer edge of the fiange 93, the points 95 being spaced as indicated in Figure 5, and each point having solder and flux applied, for example, in the manner disclosed in my application entitled Apparatus for applying uniting material to can closures, filed of even date herewith.

In the operation of the machine, assembled can top elements each comprising a top body element 80 and a cap 8| are placed upon the infeed conveyor l2 in any suitable manner. The caps 8| are preferably only loosely fitted to the top body element 80 at this time but, if desired, the caps 8| may be pressed tightly upon the body elements 89 prior to delivery to the machine. The continuously moving straight line infeed conveyor l2 will successfully bring the top elements opposite the infeed element l3 and the latter Will deliver a top element to each platform l4 as the table I! rotates. At the moment that a platform I4 is opposite the infeed pusher l3, the roller 5| of that platform will be on the lowest portion I of the cam track 23 (Figure 4) so that its upper surface will be flush with the surface of the rotary table H. As is apparent from Figures 3 and 6, the assembled top elements will normally rest upon their central portion formed by the depression 81, or upon the undersurface of the cap 8|. In view of this, each platform I4 is provided with a pocket or recess Ma having an inclined wall Mb which will substantially fit the central portion of the top elements. The depression I40, is also preferably provided with a central recess Me to accommodate the cap 8| which, when firmly pressed into the top element 80, will extend somewhat below the lower wall of the depression 81 of the top body element.

It will be observed that by the above arrangement, the assembled top elements will be supported throughout their entire area when on the platforms I4, and will also be properly centered on the platforms.

The rotation of the table II in a clockwise direction (Figure 1) will cause the roller of the platform to move up the incline IOI of the cam track to the intermediate rise I02. As is shown in Figure 3, the lower end of the holding member I5 is normally positioned a substantial distance below the lower end of the heating element I6 and the above described slight upward movement of the platform I4 will cause the assembled can top elements to come into contact with the holding member I5 as shown at the left hand side of Figure 2. The lower end of the holding member is reduced in size as indicated at I Eat and the reduced portion will fit into the upper side of the cap element 8|, thus further serving to center the top elements upon the platform I4.

A slight further rotation of the table II will cause the roller 5| of the platform to move up the incline I03 to the upper rise Hi4 with the result that the platform will be raised to the position shown at the right of Figure 2, bringing the top elements in contact with the lower end of the heating element I6. The lower end of the heating element I6 is of such diameter that it will bear upon the points 95 of the cap element 8 I, applying heat to these points to cause the solder thereon to fiow onto the top surface of the top element 81! immediately adjacent the upper end of the inclined wall 88 of the top element. The fact that the heating element I5 is resiliently mounted by reason of the bearing of the spring GI on its upper end will permit the heating element to rise slightly when the top elements come in contact therewith so that the heating element will exert some pressure on the top elements, and to also slightly rock, if necessary. The rise of the platform to the position shown at the right of Figure 2 will force the holding member I5 further upwardly and the spring I? provided above this member will thereby exert a greater downward force upon the cap element 8! so that the latter will be firmly pressed into engagement with the topbody element 80.

As is stated in my Patent No. 2,024,511, December 17, 1935, for Vacuum sealing can, the movement of the cap element 8| into the top body element 88 will be limited by reason of the fact that the shoulder 94 on the cap element will contact with the bottom of the depression 81 on the top body element, and the lip 85 of the top body element is sufiiciently short that when the cap element has been moved to the inward limit described, the upper end 86 of the lip 85 will not extend entirely through the plastic sealing composition Bla provided in the cap element, as described in said patent.

The upper rise EM of cam 23 extends somewhat over one-quarter of a revolution of the rotary table I! so that the elements will be maintained in the position shown in the right hand side of Figure 2 for a substantial period and with the result that the solder on the cap points 95 will have a full opportunity to fiow as indicated above.

When the roller SI of the platform I4 reaches the end of the upper rise I04, it will move down a decline I05 to the low point IIJII of the cam track, the top elements first moving out of contact with the heating element IE, but being followed downwardly by the holding member I5, the holding member thus forcing the top elements away from the heating element I6 and also retaining the two elements of the top securely together so that the solder will have some opportunity to harden before the elements can tend to separate in any respect. When the platform roller reaches the low point I00, the platform will again be flush with the surface of the rotary table II and shortly thereafter the rotation of the table II will bring the now secured top elements into contact with the outfeed guide member I06 which will engage the edge of the top body element 80 to sweep the elements out of the depression Ida in the platform I4. As succeeding platforms bring their top elements into contact with the guide member I06, the top elements will be moved along the outfeed guideway I! and out of the machine.

It will be noted that the heating elements I6 are supported entirely out of contact with the holding elements I5, thereby preventing the latter from becoming heated. Obviously, if the holding elements should be heated, they would heat the can top elements so that the sweated or melted solder would not readily cool and reharden after moving from the heating elements. If desired, the spider 55 may be formed of nonheat conducting material to isolate the heating elements from the remainder of the machine.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of construction shown in the drawings, and that the example of the use of the machine and mechanisms which has been given does not include all of the uses of which they are capable; and that the phraseology employed in the specification is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for assembling two container top elements, a base structure, a platform to carry the top elements, an upper and a lower support fixed with respect to said base structure and concentrically arranged with respect to each other, the lower support being of annular form, the upper support extending downwardly into and being spaced within the lower support, a container top engaging plunger resiliently mounted in the upper support, and an annular heating element resiliently mounted in the lower support with its lower edge normally above the lower end of the plunger, the container top carrying platform being movable with respect to the plunger and heating element.

2. In an apparatus for assembling two container top elements, a base structure, a platform to carry the top elements, an upper and a lower support fixed with respect to said base structure and concentrically arranged with respect to each other, the lower support being of annular form, the upper support extending downwardly into and being spaced within the lower support, a container top engaging plunger resiliently mounted in the upper support, an annular heating element resiliently mounted in the lower support with its lower edge normally above the lower end of the plunger, and means to move the platform toward the plunger and heating element.

3. In an apparatus for assembling two container top elements, a base, a vertical shaft rotatable in said base, a table fixed to said shaft, a lower carrier member fixed to said shaft and overlying said table, an upper carrier member fixed to said shaft, a plurality of platforms vertically reciprocable in said table, a plurality of heating elements of annular form carried by said lower carrier member, means to urge said heating elements downwardly, a plurality of plungers carried by said upper carrier member and spaced within said heating elements, means to urge said plungers to a position below said heating ele- 5 ments, said platforms, heating elements and plungers being in vertical alignment, means to rotate said table, a circular cam track to move said platforms upwardly upon rotation of said table, and means to laterally position top elements on said platforms and remove the same therefrom.

FRANK L. DARLING. 

